GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA: FOR WHO THE BELL TOLLS NEXT.

Just five people shy of Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting incident that claimed 26 lives, the Uvalde Texas Robb elementary school mass shooting at 21 victims, now ranks among the highest grossing gun carnage in America. It is sad that such frequent blood spilling has tragically become part of our culture as a society. May the souls of the killed now rest.

25th AMENDMENT: ITS NOW ALL CRICKET.

Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi once questioned former President Donald John Trump's fitness to remain in office due to what she claimed was his declining mental capacity. Does anyone know what Madam Speaker presently thinks about the incontrovertible case which America is now saddled with? Just curious!

WHO WILL REBUILD UKRAINE?

The West should convert frozen Russian assets, both state's and oligarchs' owned, into a full seizure and set them aside for the future rebuilding of Ukraine. Like the Marshal Plan, call it the Putin Plan.

A HERO IS BORN.

I am staying put. I will not run away and abandon my people. The fight is here in Ukraine. What I need are weapons and ammunitions, not a ride out of town like former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani - President Volodymyr Zelensky.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

"There is too much hate in America because there is too much anger in America." - Trevor Noah.

WORD!

A life without challenges is not a life lived at all. A life lived is a life that has problems, confronts problems, solves problems and then learns from problems. - Tunde Fashola.

NOW, YOU KNOW.

When fishing for love, bait with your heart and not your brain, because you cannot rationalize love. - Mark Twain.

JUST THE FACT.

In our country, you can shoot and kill a nigger, but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings - Dave Chappelle

DO YOU?.

“What you believe in can only be defined by what you’re willing to risk for it." - Stuart Scheller.

HEDGE YOUR CRISIS.

Never get in bed with a woman whose problems are worse than yours. - Chicago PD.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

'The best way to keep peace is to be ready to destroy evil. If you Pearl Harbor me, I Nagasaki you.' - Ted Nugent.

OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

Empathy is at the heart of who we are as human beings. - Cardinal Matthew Kukah.

WORDS ON MARBLE.

"Birth is agony. Life is hard. Death is cruel." - Japanese pithy.

REPENT OR PERISH - POPE.

Homosexuality is a sin. It is not ordained by God, therefore same sex marriage cannot be blessed by the church - Pope Francis.

CANCEL CULTURE IS CORROSIVE.


FOR SAKE OF COUNTRY.


MAGA LIVES ON: NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER!

TWITTER IS BORING WITHOUT HIS TWEETS. #RestorePresidentTrump'sTwitterHandle.


WORD.

"If you cannot speak the truth when it matters, then nothing else you says matters.” - Tucker Carlson.

#MeToo MOVEMENT: A BAD NEWS GONE CRAZY.

"To all the women who testified, we may have different truth, but I have a great remorse for all of you. I have great remorse for all of the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country. You know, the movement started basically with me, and I think what happened, you know, I was the first example, and now there are thousands of men who are being accused and a regeneration of things that I think none of us understood. I’m not going to say these aren’t great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I’m just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue. We are going through this #MeToo movement crisis right now in this country." - Harvey Weinstein.


RON DELLUMS: UNAPOLOGETICALLY RADICAL.

"If it’s radical to oppose the insanity and cruelty of the Vietnam War, if it’s radical to oppose racism and sexism and all other forms of oppression, if it’s radical to want to alleviate poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, and other forms of human misery, then I’m proud to be called a radical.” - Ron Vernie Dellums.


WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE - STEVE JOBS

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me. God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth. Memories precipitated by love is the only true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on. The most expensive bed in the world is the sick bed. You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear sickness for you. Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life. Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat yourself well. Cherish others.” - SJ

EVIL CANNOT BE TRULY DESTROYED.

"The threat of evil is ever present. We can contain it as long as we stay vigilant, but it can never truly be destroyed. - Lorraine Warren (Annabelle, the movie)


ONLY THE POOR WISH THEY HAD STUFF?

“I’m not that interested in material things. As long as I find a good bed that I can sleep in, that’s enough.” - Nicolas Berggruem, the homeless billionaire.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

IRAN UNDERMINING NIGERIA, SHIPS TWO EXPEDITIONARY DEADLY CARGOES!

Icheoku says the fact that two highly dangerous and illicit cargoes from Iran came into Nigeria within just the last few weeks is not any ordinary coincidence. It is a methodical, well calculated and carefully orchestrated Iranian state policy out of Tehran geared towards destabilizing Nigeria; or at least force the authorities in Abuja to pay greater attention to the Persians. First there was a large consignment of arms which was shipped into Nigeria from Tehran but which the Iranian authorities initially, tried unsuccessfully, to deny knowledge of once the dreaded Israeli MOSSAD unmasked them. But facing mounting of incontrovertible evidence of their culpability, the Islamic state relented and later put up a feeble claim that the discovered arms cache was meant for Gambia; which country when faced with Nigeria's diplomatic pressure caved in and denied ownership of them. Iran has since accepted responsibility for the lethal cargo shipment to Nigeria but is yet to convincingly show the whence and purpose of these weapons; and diplomatic moves had gotten into high gear to investigate the shipment and punish Iran if need be; the matter is presently with the United Nations.

However just as investigation was continuing into this shipment, another unfriendly cargo came ashore in Nigeria from Iran through the same consignors that brought in the previous one. This time, it was large quantity of heroin, carefully concealed with motor spare parts and shipped as the later in a 40-foot maritime container; and as crack-heads would confirm, those gluey substance are more dangerous than firearms. So which friendly country that means well for another would permit or allow these life-wasting materials to leave her shores for the others without alerting the recipient country and so clandestinely? Were such cargoes to have originated from some freer countries and not such a religious, highly conservative closed country as Iran, then it would be possible to say that it is the handiwork of a criminal gang. But not when it is from Iran where no bird could fly without first securing the state's approval of its right to be airborne. Icheoku therefore is of the opinion that both firearms and drugs were shipped into Nigeria with the blessing of the authorities in Tehran as represented by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or the Ayatollahs religious council; which begs the question, why? What is the state objective of Iran in trying to sabotage Nigeria or undermine its government's effort to crackdown and rid the society of crimes and criminals? Why would Iran export ammunition and drugs to Nigeria concealed as building materials and vehicle spare-parts?

Hopefully investigations will provide some answers to these burning questions and Icheoku urge the Nigerian authorities to go for the jugular in this matter with Iran since Nigeria can do without Iran, their joint OPEC membership notwithstanding. The aggressor here is Tehran and Nigeria did not in anyway provoke this their action; except of course it is Islamic based because Nigeria currently have a Christian president who is not receptive to the tele-guiding influences of those Middle East  and Persian Gulf Islamic countries. Whatever reprisal action that may be taken by Nigeria, including a recalling of her diplomatic personnel from Tehran, will be understandable both by the rest of the world as well as Nigerians because what Iran did amounts to a declaration of war or at best very hostile action. As Icheoku together with the rest of the world await the outcome of the UN investigation into the arms shipment, we urge Nigerian authorities not to relent in pursuing the matter to its logical conclusion in order to send a strong message that such Islamic undermining of secular countries will not be tolerated by Abuja. The other time it was Libyan Moummar Ghaddafi who was advocating for Nigeria's breakup and now another Islamic country is shipping arms and drugs into Nigeria, covertly, trying to undermine the country's structural integrity and cohesiveness.

Icheoku condemns the Iranian action in its totality as unfriendly, provocative and unbecoming of a supposedly friendly country. Thirteen containers of arms and ammunition covertly brought into a country suffices as an attempt at insurrection or causing serious mayhem and anarchy within the host society. In fact it should be treasonable felony for those Nigerian collaborators who aided and abetted or connived with the shipment and attempt at clearing the deadly cargo. It even gets madder to learn that it was the same shipping company that brought in those weapons that also brought in the subsequent drugs and Icheoku asks, is this company still operating in Nigeria with their government issued license? As Icheoku congratulates Nigeria security agencies for not sleeping on duty this time around or glossing over necessary tail-tale signs that led to these impounds; they should also be further aware that other dangerous cargoes possibly are on the high seas en-route Nigeria from the same Iran and should remain on eagles alert. To Iran, Icheoku warns that your jihadist intentions against Nigeria will not succeed as Nigerians are smarter and more united when their country is involved in any skirmish with another country; not withstanding the often acerbic political jaw-jaw and intermittent shedding of the blood of one another prevalent in the country. Tehran must therefore cease and desist forthwith from further acts of aggression against Nigeria as Nigerians will resist them, being too sophisticated to bite their bait to trigger a consuming conflagration which will be detrimental to her existence. Icheoku says, enough Tehran!

2 comments:

  1. Customs impounds another deadly shipment from Iran
    • N1.5bn heroin concealed in container
    By OMODELE ADIGUN with Agency report
    Saturday, November 20 , 2010


    •South-East Govs
    Photo: Sun News Publishing

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    The Nigerian Customs Service, working in concert with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has seized N1.5 billion ($9.91 million) worth of heroin concealed in auto parts container shipped from Iran. This is coming just a few days after Nigeria reported Iran to the United Nations (UN) over an illegal arms shipment from the Arab nation.

    According to Reuters, the haul, which was one of the NDLEA’s biggest seizures at the Apapa Port, in Lagos, was based on “strong intelligence” received from foreign collaborators about four months ago.
    Based on the intelligence, the agency had closely monitored the consignment and some key players behind its shipment before it arrived in Lagos, NDLEA spokesman Mitchell Ofoyeju said.

    “The NDLEA ... decided to get a welder to cut open the engine parts and behold, we found hidden inside them 130 kg of heroin with a street value of about N1.5 billion ($9.91 million),” Ofoyeju told Reuters.
    “The consignment was from Iran and we have arrested three Nigerians connected with the illicit drugs.”

    It was gathered that the drugs came in a 40-foot container aboard a vessel, MV Montenegro. Area Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Austin Warikoru, said the vessel, MD Montenegro, brought the container into the port on Wednesday evening and was intercepted by his men.
    He said: “We got wind of the container based on advance information and we decided to carry out inspection on the container. We discovered a large quantity of heroin concealed inside propellers and cylinders found in the containers.”

    The quantity of the heroin, the customs boss said, was yet to be ascertained as the organisation is still conducting investigations and carrying out inspection. He also stated that the importer is not yet known, as the container was not yet declared and no documentation had been made on the container.
    He said: “We are yet to uncover the person behind this, but I am sure before we conclude investigations, we must unmask the person or persons involved.
    “The goods originated from Iran and the last destination port of the vessel is Nigeria. So, the question of the container being on transit is ruled out.”

    Also confirming the interception of the large quantity of hard drugs, Customs spokesman, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, said that about 10 wraps of heroine each weighing 112kg had been off-loaded from the container. According to him, the manifest for the shipment had indicated that it was building materials.
    Saturday Sun gathered that the shipping company that brought in the 13 containers of arms and ammunition intercepted recently at the Apapa Port, also brought the heroine-laden container.

    Some months ago, about 450.400kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of over N4billion was seized at the port.
    Nigeria reported Iran to the United Nations Security Council last week after the state secret service intercepted an illegal arms shipment from Iran at Lagos port last month.

    Rockets and other explosives hidden in containers of building materials were shipped to Nigeria from Iran in an apparent breach of UN sanctions imposed over Tehran’s refusal to halt a sensitive nuclear programme.
    Nigeria is not a major narcotics consumer, but, like several other coastal West African nations, it is a major transit hub for trafficking in hard drugs from Asia and Latin America to Western markets thanks to lax customs controls and corruption.

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  2. agos arms seizure: Gambia severes ties with Iran
    The Sun Publishing
    Wednesday, November 24, 2010



    Photo: Sun News publishing
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    Gambia has broken ties with its ally Iran. The sudden decision was linked to a shipment of arms linked to Iran and found in Nigeria last month. The said shipment was said to be bound for the Gambia. A statement issued on Monday night by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Gambia was severing diplomatic ties with Iran, and gave Iranian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.

    While no reason was given, the decision came amid recent controversy over arms seized by Nigerian officials, which were reportedly bound for Gambia.
    “This action by the government is to clear itself by all means regarding this issue,” a source close to the Gambian presidency said yesterday.

    “The cutting of ties between Gambia and Iran, which came as a surprise to many Gambians, is directly linked to the alleged shipment of the arms to the Gambia from Iran.”
    Nigeria last week reported the discovery of an illegal arms shipment disguised as building materials from Iran to the United Nations.The consignment included rockets and grenades.

    Iran, under four sets of UN sanctions over its disputed nuclear programme including a ban on arms sales, said the shipment was by a private company and was on its way to a West African country, which turned out to be Gambia.
    The opposition Foroyaa Newspaper yesterday called on government to take the matter up with both Nigeria and Iran and issued a statement to clear the air. An editorial by opposition leader Halifa Sallah also raised concerns over security in the region.
    “The fact that arms are being transported under the guise of shipment of building materials confirms that cargoes no longer reflect their labels. This is a major regional security breach and Nigeria should not handle this as a matter of national security alone,” Sallah wrote.

    Government had refused to comment on the decision, and all Iranian embassy staff had already left Gambia, according to a driver at the premises.
    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in 2006 that both nations were under pressure from “bullying” powers while Gambia had supported Iran’s right to develop its nuclear capabilities.

    Ahmadinejad paid a visit to the country in November 2009 to cement ties. Iran had been involved in many projects in the Gambia including a multimillion dollar agriculture and rural development project

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